Comments on: County Gets Stimulus Funds for Worker Aid http://annarborchronicle.com/2009/04/09/county-gets-stimulus-funds-for-worker-aid/ it's like being there Sun, 27 May 2012 11:45:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Vivienne Armentrout http://annarborchronicle.com/2009/04/09/county-gets-stimulus-funds-for-worker-aid/comment-page-1/#comment-16903 Vivienne Armentrout Fri, 10 Apr 2009 17:47:10 +0000 http://annarborchronicle.com/?p=18052#comment-16903 I think Commissioner Irwin described the situation accurately. The BOC has struggled in the past with this "priority" issue. The aim is not an exercise in rationality (=process) but to achieve some sort of consensus (=politics =art) on where the county administration will use its shrinking resources. I'm guessing that Commissioner Sizemore's comment reflects the lack of that consensus. The question of how the county will support the cost of police services remains the obvious main obstacle to agreement on how revenue dollars from all county communities is to be allocated, when some communities benefit from that allocation more than others. Here's another problem with "priorities". If they are ranked (priority #1, etc.) - say there are 5 priorities, do you allocate all dollars to #1 as needed to fulfill it completely, leaving #5 and maybe #4 and #5 high and dry? Or do you attempt to fulfill all 5 priorities more or less equally if not ideally? The County Guiding Principles have been around for more than 10 years and have served well, whether as a mission statement, a vision, or indeed a set of priorities. I think using them as a starting point is a good exercise. I think Commissioner Irwin described the situation accurately. The BOC has struggled in the past with this “priority” issue. The aim is not an exercise in rationality (=process) but to achieve some sort of consensus (=politics =art) on where the county administration will use its shrinking resources. I’m guessing that Commissioner Sizemore’s comment reflects the lack of that consensus. The question of how the county will support the cost of police services remains the obvious main obstacle to agreement on how revenue dollars from all county communities is to be allocated, when some communities benefit from that allocation more than others.

Here’s another problem with “priorities”. If they are ranked (priority #1, etc.) – say there are 5 priorities, do you allocate all dollars to #1 as needed to fulfill it completely, leaving #5 and maybe #4 and #5 high and dry? Or do you attempt to fulfill all 5 priorities more or less equally if not ideally?

The County Guiding Principles have been around for more than 10 years and have served well, whether as a mission statement, a vision, or indeed a set of priorities. I think using them as a starting point is a good exercise.

]]> By: Steve Bean http://annarborchronicle.com/2009/04/09/county-gets-stimulus-funds-for-worker-aid/comment-page-1/#comment-16806 Steve Bean Thu, 09 Apr 2009 23:37:05 +0000 http://annarborchronicle.com/?p=18052#comment-16806 I appreciate commissioner Judge's approach in organizing this effort and am glad that a facilitator will be involved. To offer an alternative to Jeff's comment, it's more a process than an art, and the process can be more successful when performed within a context or framework: a set of goal(s) and guiding principles. If the county has a mission statement, that would be worth a look as well. Unfortunately, the guiding principles listed above are likely to lead to confusion, largely because they aren't actually principles, but instead are a mixture of objectives, strategies, and tactics, lacking overarching goals or any principles as useful reference points or guides. Sizemore's anticipation of a struggle might reflect experience with their limited value in past efforts. I appreciate commissioner Judge’s approach in organizing this effort and am glad that a facilitator will be involved. To offer an alternative to Jeff’s comment, it’s more a process than an art, and the process can be more successful when performed within a context or framework: a set of goal(s) and guiding principles. If the county has a mission statement, that would be worth a look as well.

Unfortunately, the guiding principles listed above are likely to lead to confusion, largely because they aren’t actually principles, but instead are a mixture of objectives, strategies, and tactics, lacking overarching goals or any principles as useful reference points or guides. Sizemore’s anticipation of a struggle might reflect experience with their limited value in past efforts.

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